'Nature speaks for itself': How minimalism maximised this 1980s beach house

Who: Josephine Luczak, director of freight forwarding company Elto Freight; Paul Luczak, chairman of The Gild Group; and children Elodie, 10, and Fintan, 7

What: A 1980s timber beach house where every day feels like a holiday

Where: Cape Schanck, Victoria

Fourteen years ago, a friend loaned Josephine and Paul Luczak their Cape Schanck home to stay in after their wedding. Eight years later, the couple found themselves in the same spot, only this time falling in love with the house next door.

“It must have been kismet,” says Josephine.

Josephine and Paul first laid eyes on the home via a photo of the ocean view, and that alone was enough to seal the deal. At the inspection, they were pleasantly surprised to discover its original 1988 interiors and outlooks to nature from every room.

“The area around us has been developed as much as it ever will be, so the view over Gunnamatta and beyond to Lorne will always remain,” says Josephine.

“We love the true holiday feel without crowds or shops, but that it is still so close to all the beautiful attractions of the Mornington Peninsula.”

After purchasing the property as a family holiday house, the couple soon set about some minor cosmetic renovations. They painted the timber kitchen cupboards, removed an awkward timber counter to make way for a new stone bench, redid the bathroom, and removed the old carpet.

“I think it was all completed within a month. We didn’t want to meddle too much – just update where it was needed,” says Josephine.

The couple later installed new light grey floors to match the whitewashed pine interior walls, which contrasted with the weathered western red cedar exterior and original sage green trims.

Josephine likens the home to a Danish summer house. Decoration is minimal to respect the simplicity of the original 1980s design and ensure the stunning surrounding landscape remains the focus.

“I like to keep it minimal, not only as it is nice to come here and feel free of clutter, but because the surrounding nature speaks for itself,” Josephine says. “I drew inspiration from the colours of the bush and ocean for most of the decorating and kept the furniture simple.”

The garden – featuring towering moonah trees, coastal rosemary, and tea trees – is largely left to run wild, apart from a tidy-up with the whipper snipper each month.

Paul, Josephine, and their children love unwinding as a family in the living room or on the upstairs deck, gazing out at the coastline beyond.

“It’s incredibly calming and makes you really appreciate the rhythms of nature,” says Josephine. “Watching the sunrise with a cup of coffee or unwinding with a wine at sunset really readjusts the body clock in a positive way.”

With its relaxed and nostalgic feel, this beautifully understated home is a gentle reminder that sometimes simplicity is the greatest luxury of all. And ocean views don’t hurt either!

How to make your home a sanctuary

Our homes have an incredible impact on health and wellbeing; even small changes can be transformative. Aim to make your home a space that invites rest and connection with loved ones and allows you to disconnect from the outside world when you choose to.

Natural light has a huge impact on our mood and energy levels. Look for every opportunity to optimise natural light and brighten up dark corners – choose a soft, uplifting palette, and position mirrors opposite windows to create the illusion of more natural light.

Airflow is another significant factor in our health and wellbeing. Open windows daily to refresh your home – ideally, aim for cross ventilation from one end of the house to the other.

One important way to ensure you’re relaxed at home is to minimise digital distractions. Position living room furniture in a way that encourages human interaction instead of screentime. Also consider creating a “hub” for charging mobile phones, encouraging phones to be put away for a rest as soon as you arrive home.

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